祂一直顾念我们

“你们必亲眼看见，也必说：‘愿耶和华在以色列境界之外被尊为大！’” - 玛 1:5

　　以扫的后代以东人，或许以为他们能够撤消神成就了的事。他们既然不认为自己是神的儿女，作为以色列民的神又怎会顾念他们呢？

　　每一个人都会有过这样的想法，就是以为神不再顾念他们了。即使是相信神的人，有时也会觉得好像神不再理会他们似的，当日的以色列民就有这种感觉。然而神指出，祂一直在顾念他们，甚至是不相信的人，就如祂在以色列那个时代顾念以东人。如果神仍顾念以东人，祂必然仍顾念以色列人，祂也必然顾念今天的我们。

　　在今天，世界各地不少国家民族——不论在东西南北——都在与这位天地的君王耶稣基督对抗。我们经常目睹种种因为不跟从这位慈爱、喜乐、和平的真神而导致的问题。由此我们看到，神不仅顾念个人，祂也顾念整个国家；祂顾念亲近祂的人，也顾念那些远离祂的人。所以，我们必须留心听从祂并尽力去事奉祂。感谢耶稣，因为凡远离神或从未认识祂的，都可以藉着信靠祂的儿子耶稣，寻找到祂呢！

祷告

亲爱的神，我们深感抱歉，因为我们用好像祢并不顾念我们的态度来对待你，然而你甚至看顾那些不认识你的人。求祢赦免我们，又帮助我们紧紧信靠祢。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

玛拉基书 1:1-5

1耶和华藉玛拉基传给以色列的默示。
2耶和华说：“我曾爱你们。”你们却说：“你在何事上爱我们呢？”耶和华说：“以扫不是雅各的哥哥吗？我却爱雅各，
3恶以扫，使他的山岭荒凉，把他的地业交给旷野的野狗。”
4以东人说：“我们现在虽被毁坏，却要重建荒废之处。”万军之耶和华如此说：“任他们建造，我必拆毁；人必称他们的地为‘罪恶之境’；称他们的民为‘耶和华永远恼怒之民’。”
5你们必亲眼看见，也必说：“愿耶和华在以色列境界之外被尊为大！”

Our Father Is Paying Attention To Us

"You will see it with your own eyes and say, 'Great is the LORD—even beyond the borders of Israel.'" — Malachi 1:5

英语音频 English Audio

The people of Edom, the descendants of Esau, may have thought they could undo what God had done. They didn't consider themselves God's children, so why would Israel's God pay attention to them?

Everyone has times when they'd like to think God isn't paying attention. Even people who believe in God sometimes act as if God doesn't see them. The people of Israel were feeling that way too. God pointed out that he was paying attention—even to people who didn't believe in him, like the nation of Edom in Israel's day. If God was paying attention to Edom, he was certainly also paying attention to Israel, and he pays attention to us today.

Many nations and people in the world today—in the west, east, north, and south—have a strained relationship with Christ Jesus, the heavenly King of this world. Often we can see with our own eyes the problems caused by not following the one true God of love, joy, and peace. That reminds us that God is paying attention to nations as well as to individuals. He also pays attention to those close to him and to those far away from him. So we should pay attention to God too and serve him as best we can. Thanks be to Jesus that anyone who has wandered from God or who has never known him can find him simply by placing their trust in his Son, Jesus!

Prayer

Dear God, we are sorry for treating you as if you're not paying attention. You watch over even people who don't know you. Please forgive us and help us to call on you. In Jesus' name, Amen.